Word origin of 'hard'

Old English heard; related to Old Norse harthr, Old Frisian herd, Old High German herti, Gothic hardus hard, Greek kratus strong

hard for learners of EnglishPowered by COBUILD (hɑːʳd)

Word forms: harder, hardest

Definitions

1. graded adjective & adjective

Something that is hard is very firm and stiff to touch and is not easily bent, cut, or broken. ⇒ He shuffled his feet on the hard wooden floor. ⇒ Something cold and hard pressed into the back of his neck.

hardnessuncountable noun [oft with poss] [+ of] ⇒ He felt the hardness of the iron railing press against his spine.

2. graded adjective & adjective [ADJ to-inf]

Something that is hard is very difficult to do or deal with. ⇒ It's hard to tell what effect this latest move will have. ⇒ She found it hard to accept some of the criticisms directed towards her and her work. ⇒ Our traveller's behaviour on the journey is hard to explain. ⇒ That's a very hard question.

3. graded adverb & adverb [ADV after v]

If you work hard doing something, you are very active or work intensely, with a lot of effort. ⇒ I'll work hard. I don't want to let him down. ⇒ Am I trying too hard?

Hard is also an adjective. ⇒ I admired him as a true scientist and hard worker.

4. graded adjective & adjective

Hard work involves a lot of activity and effort. ⇒ Coping with three babies is very hard work. ⇒ ...a hard day's work. ⇒ Their work is hard and unglamorous, and most people would find it boring.

5. graded adverb & adverb [ADV after v]

If you look, listen, or thinkhard, you do it carefully and with a great deal of attention. ⇒ He looked at me hard. ⇒ You had to listen hard to hear the old man breathe. ⇒ People are having to think hard about their holiday plans.

Hard is also an adjective. ⇒ It might be worth taking a long hard look at your frustrations and resentments.

6. graded adverb & adverb [ADV after v]

If you strike or take hold of something hard, you strike or take hold of it with a lot of force. ⇒ I kicked a dustbin very hard and broke my toe.

Hard is also an adjective. ⇒ He gave her a hard push which toppled her backwards into an armchair.

7. graded adverb & adverb [ADV after v]

You can use hard to indicate that something happens intensely and for a long time. ⇒ I've never seen Terry laugh so hard. ⇒ It was snowing hard by then.

8. graded adjective & adjective [usu ADJ n]

If a person or their expression is hard, they show no kindness or sympathy. ⇒ His father was a hard man. ⇒ Kate realized that the previous hard look on Maggie's face had been a mask.

9. graded adjective & adjective

If you are hard on someone, you treat them severely or unkindly. [+ on] ⇒ Don't be so hard on him.

Hard is also an adverb. ⇒ He said the security forces would continue to crack down hard on the protestors.

10. graded adjective & adjective

If you say that something is hard on a person or thing, you mean it affects them in a way that is likely to cause them damage or suffering. [+ on] ⇒ The grey light was hard on the eyes. [+ on] ⇒ These last four years have been hard on them.

11. graded adjective & adjective

If you have a hard life or a hard period of time, your life or that period is difficult and unpleasant for you. ⇒ It had been a hard life for her. ⇒ Those were hard times.

hardnessuncountable noun [+ of] ⇒ In America, people don't normally admit to the hardness of life.

12. graded adjective [usu ADJ n]

A hardwinter or a hardfrost is a very cold one. OPPOSITE: mild ⇒ ...a prolonged period of hard frost. ⇒ I am expecting a long, hard winter.

13. graded adjective [usu ADJ n]

Hard colours or sounds are harsh or bright and unpleasant to see or hear. ⇒ The sea was a hard blue.

14. adjective [ADJ n]

Hardevidence or facts are definitelytrue and do not need to be questioned. ⇒ He wanted more hard evidence. ⇒ There are probably fewer hard facts about the life of Henry Purcell than that of any other great composer since the Renaissance.

Example sentences containing 'hard'

It was hard to make out whether the teddy bear's mouth was grinning or snarling.Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTIONThey would not be pleased with an order to burynearlyfivehundred Fardohnyans in this cold, hard ground.Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEPI suppose there'd be some women there who'd let Boris put the hard word on'em.Jon Cleary YESTERDAY'S SHADOWShe took a flyer, typed in HEB, and waited while the hard disk ground away.Lisa Scottoline ROUGH JUSTICE